Apparatus for marking cans



- J. ALBERTOLI APPARAfrUsjF'oR MARKING cANs Filed March 25, 1922 3 Sheets--Sheet- 2 Patented Get. 7, 1924.

UNITED STATS J OI-IN ALBERTOLI, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

.APPARATUS FOR MARKING. CANS.

Application filed March 25, 1922. Serial N0. 546,841.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ALBERTOLI, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Marking Cans, of which the following is a specification. Y

This invention yrelates to improvements in apparatus for marking empty cans preliminary to canning operations and has particular reference to a simply constructed and inexpensive apparatus by means of which cans may be marked so as to distinguish grades of material placed Within the cans and to designate the packer.

An object of the invention is to provide marking apparatus for cans which may be readily and easily operated, at will, to mark either one of a vplurality of brand marks upon the cans, of but one machinev for applying different marks to the cans and eliminating the necessity of changing or resetting the machinery each time one of the different marks is to be applied to the cans.

Another object of the invention is to provide marking apparatus of the character described which may be readily incorporated with the devices for delivering empty cans to canning tables, the device of the invention being so arranged as to intercept the cans as they are conveyed to the canning tables and includes a hand operated means readily accessible to an operator at the canningv table, the hand operated means being so arranged that when moved in one direction will provide for the marking of a certain grade mark on the cans and when turned in another direction will make another grade mark upon the cans.

' ent specification.

The invention possesses other advantages and features some of which, with the foregoing will be set forth at length in' the following description where I shall outline in full that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming a part Aof the pres- In said drawings I have shown one form of the construction of myV invention, but it is to bevunderstood that I do not limit myself tosuch form since theinvention' as expressed in the claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

thus making possible the use' Referring to the drawings: y

Fig. l represents a top plan "view of the marking device of my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the marking device.

Fig. 8 represents 'a fro-nt elevation of the marking apparatus operatively associated with the can feeding and delivering means.

Figf-t is a top plan view with certain parts removed showing the feeding'and delivering means of the apparatus also the canning table. y

Fig. 5 is an end view of a can showing one of the grade marks thereon.

Figl isaside view of a can with a special mark thereon.

Fig. 7 is an end view showing with another mark thereon.

Essentially the invention comprises a hand operated member which receives cans from a gravity feed chute and may be moved in one direction to cause a certain mark to` be made upon the cans,land in another direction to cause another mark to be made upon thekcans, in either instance, after the marking of the can, the movable device causes the can to drop into a delivery chute, there being onek for cans of one mark and another he can for cans having yanother mark. The apparatus of the invention is .placed adjacent to canning tables so that the operator may` in receiving the cans preliminary to filling them,` or otherwise carrying out some step in the canningv operation, cause the cans to be given either one of several grade identify-4 Amounted upon `or adjacent to a canning` table upon'a support 1, preferably so as tor be disposed above the table, and comprises a base 2, extending upwardly from which is a shaft 3, which latter supports a movable, preferably rotatable land circular table 4., The table 4L is providedwith a plurality of radially -extending pockets 5, which are open on the upper their outer ends, said pockets being of such sufcient size to accommodate an empty-can.

and lower sidesfand at CII An empty can conveyor or feed chute 6 leading from a source of supply of empty cans, has an upright delivery portion disposed over the table 41 so that the cans will gravitate from the conveyor into the pockets of the table, one at a time. As, the table is turned away from the delivery end of the conveyor 6, the next uppermost can engages with the table portions 7 which lie between the, pockets 5 and is thereby held against discharging from the conveyor.

Imii'iediately beneath the table 4 and discharge end of the conveyor' 6 is a comparatively narrow support or shelf 8 upon which t-lie lowei sides of the cans engage when mounted in the pockets 5. rlliis support or shelf is of such size that when the table 4L turned,say, for eXa-inplc, thru aA part of one revolution the cans will disengage from the support and be free to gi'avitate or roll into discharge conveyors 9 and 10.` The conveyors 9- and 1.0 are located on opposite sides of the shelf or support and commence in slightly forwardly and downwardly inclined portions 1.1, then drop in abruptly inclined portions 12 and terminate at their other ends in upturned discharge ends 13 located adjacent to the canning' table, not shown.

I provide means for automatically marking theI cansA when the table 4 is turned with a can mounted iny one of the pockets 5 thereon, there preferably being two marking devices 1st` and 15 so that when the table is turned in one direction the can will be given a certain mark and when in t-he other direction. a4 different niark. The devices 111 and 15 are mounted upon the support 2 close to the table i and upon opposite sides of the discharge end ofthe conveyor G. ing devices are identical as to construction except as to the stamps, and each of them comprises a body portion 16 liXed'- to a shaft 17 journaled in bearings 1.8 mounted on the support 2. The body portion 16 carries a marking. stamp 19 having the desired type or dies thereon, to imprint a` grade mark as shown at 2Ok Fig. 5 upon the. ends of the cans also the. packeifs or canners number mark as shown at 21. The stamp 19 is provided with a stem E22 slidable horizontally thru spaced apertured projections 23 extending upwardly from the body portion 16. The steni 22 is provided with an abutment 2-1 adapted to engage the outer end of an eX- pansion springl 25 which. surrounds the stem. Bythis arrangement the stamp 19 yields when engaged with a can so as to properly apply the imprint to the can. The stamp 19=is so positioned that when the table i is moved' in either direction with a can engaged in one of the pockets 5, the closed end of the can will contact with and press inwardly the stamp 19.

The stamping device as a whole, moved in the same direction as the table and can. A-.s a means for turning the devices 14; and 15, gears 27 are fixed to the lower sides of the body portions 16 and to the shafts 17. These gears are secured to the body port-ions by screws 28 extending thru slots 29 in the body portions and into the gears, whereby the gears may be adjusted relative to the body portion to vary the operation of the devices. The gears 27 mesh with a large gear 30 journaled upon a short shaft 31 on the support 2, the said gears 27 being disposed on opposite sides of the gear 30. The gear 30 meshes with a similar gear 32 mounted upon an upright shaft 33 j ournaled on. the support 2. Above the gear is a smaller gear 34 which meshes with a drive gear 35 lined to the shaft 3 and lower side ofy the table 4. Thus, it will be seen that when the table 4 is turned in either direction, the stamps 19 on the devices 1e and 15 will be turned towards the periphery of the tableso as to engage the ends of the cans in the pockets 5.

Suitable inking devices may be provided for the stamps 19 of the devices 111 and 15. As shown, two inking devices designated 36 and 37 are provided, one for each of the marking devices. Each of these inking devices coinprises a frame 38 pivoted as at 39 near one-end to the support 2. Mounted in the frame 39is an ink applyingroller 40 with which the stamp 19 is adapted to engage soas to 4be inked. The inking roller l10 engages with a perforated magazine or ink roller 41 journaled in the frame 38. The ink is transferred to the applying roller 40 by the magazine roller l1 and from thence to the particu-lar stamp 19v once during each revolution of the stamping device. To provide for movement of the applying roller into position so as to contact with the stamp 1-9, eachlv frame, near its outer' end is provided with an elongated clamp 4:2 comprising arms 13 adapted to frictionally engage on opposite sides ofA the gear 30, said arms being secured at their inner ends at 44 to the frame 3 These arms are pressed together by a spring device 45, so that they will have frictional contact with opposite sides of the gear 30. The arms for the clamps of the two iiiking devices are disposed on opposite sides of the gear so that when the gear 30 is rotated in one direction, say, from left to right, the arms 113, the clamp 42 and the frame 38 of the device 37 will be moved from the dotted line position shown in Fig` 1, to the full line position and thereby cause the applying roller l() to engage and apply ink to the stamp.19 As a means for regulating `the movement of the frame 38 of each of the inliing devices, there are providedl adjustable stops 47 and 48 mounted on the trip members '52 extending into the pathsof the cans as they are advanced in the respective conveyors.

Since the cans are marked upon the ends, in order to provide for readily distinguishing cans bearing one markfrom cans bearing lanother mark, the cans bearing one of the marks are caused to be marked with a ring, lor part of a ring, on (the main bodies thereof, as shown at 53 in Fig. 6. Preferably the chute or conveyor y9 is provided with a marking device 54 adapted to mark the mark 53 upon thecans. This device 54 comprises'gan inked wick or a strip o-f absorbent material 55 held in the frame 56 which extends along thel lower side of the portion 11 of the conveyor 9. lThus as the cans roll onto the conveyor 9 they are given a ring-like black mark onthe cylindrical walls'as shown at 53 in Fig. 6.

It is now the custom in canneries to apply grade marks to the empty cans, preliminary to the canning operation. With the apparatus ofmy invention. installed adja- 'cent to a canning table, as the cans are delivered thru the conveyor 6, the o-perator may cause the cans to ,be marked with a grade designating mark, by turning the table 4, preferably by hand. Vhen it is desired to mark the can with the, first or highest grade mark, for example, the one shown in Fig. 5, the operator will' turn the table 4 from left to right. 'Vhen a pocket f'is brought opposite the discharge end of the conveyor 6 ythe lowermost can in the` conveyor will drop into the pocket and as the table is turned to the right, the next uppermost can will rest upon vthe portion 7 of the table which lies between the pockets` 5. The can within the pocket 5 is moved tothe right with the table and as the table is thus moved, the train of gears causes the marking device 14 to rotate so as to bring the stamp 19 into engagement with the outer closed end of the can designated A, 1n Fig.

2. Continued rotation to the right causes the stamp 19 to move free o-f the canand the can to move free of engagement with the support 8, the movements of the table and marking device 14 being indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. As soon as the can disengages from the vsupport 8, it rolls o-nto the slightly inclined portion 11 of the conveyor 9 and then gravitates inthe conveyor' v9 to the lower upturned end v13 thereof,

where it may be remo-ved `from or allowed toistand in, saidk conveyor. vvBy vcontinuing l the left to rightv movement of the table, the operator may continuously cause cans-to be removed from the dischargeend ofthe conveyor 6 and to bemarked iby the device 14,

then delivered into the discharge chute 9.l

This operation of turning the-table 4-may be 'effected with one hand of theoperator. As the cans after having been marked with designations shown at 2O and 21,'inFig-5, roll into the portion 11 of the conveyor 9 they contact with the inking device 54 and are given a ring-like mark on -theircircular' wallswhich readily distinguish the cans for containing high grade products from the cans marked to receivethe'next best or lower grade.

Should the operator desire to apply a second grade mark to the ends ofy the 'cans,*the table is turned from'right to left-or inthe opposite direction so that the cans-are moved into position to be marked by the marking device 15 and are then moyed on of the opposite side of the supportv 8 into the vdischarge conveyor 10. Itwill Vthus be seen that the marking operation may be' continuously carried out by turning the table-4 in either'ydirection. When the table'is turned continuously in either direction, the linking device' for the stamping device being operated will be brought into position lfromtime to timeto apply ink to thestamp 19.'- The difference of the sums shown by the registering or counting devices() and 51,-will indicate' the-number of cansmarked, in this y instance, with the low grade marka as Shawn at20inFig.5.\ v y 4 With the apparatus' of my inventionfit will be seen that the application'of different marks to cans may be readily and easilyeffected by `a canning operator at the time of the delivery of the cans to the operator'for canning operations. y nthis 'way` a 'great deal of time, labor and operation expense may be saved particularly since the marking operation may be `continuously carried out to apply one or more marks, kas desired, also 'thepackers number and cause-the differently marked cans to be segregated and if desired stacked `within the discharge conveyor.

lVhileI have shown a particular form vof revolvable table which is hand operated, I

wish it understood that I may use any kind of'movingfdevice which will serve the purpose of mo-vingcans from the feed conveyor so as to cause marking thereof and then dis-v tributing differently marked cans into different discharge conveyors. l r

I claim: y

1.' Apparatus forv markingv cans comprising in combination with means for conveying cans from a source of suppl-yfof cans to stations in a Cannery at which stations the cans areto be filled, ma-rking devices for applying differing marks to. cans. and. means for moving the cans intoi position to be vmarked by either of the marking devices Without arresting the advancement of the cans b y said conveying means.

2. Apparatus for marking cans comprising meansfor conveyingcans from.y a source of supply of cans to stations in. a cannery at vvhichv points the cans are to be handled,

marking devices for applying different marks to cansand. means selectively operable to cause the cans to be moved into position' to be marked by either` of said marking devices during the progress of said cans and means for making an additional mark on cans bearing one of said differing marks during movement thereof by said: conveying means.

3; @an marking apparatus compnising devices for making different marks upon cans, means for supporting a can and, moving it into. engagement with either ofthe devices andA means'operating upon movement of the last named. means 'or actuating the marking devices.

1. A can marking device comprising a. revolving table having. a plurality of. can receiving pockets thereon, a can: feeding apparatus arranged t-[o discharge cans-into pockets of the table as the pockets are brought opposite the feeding apparatus and.r means Which When thel table is-rotated. indifferent directions, Will apply different marks-on the cans. i

5. A can marking device.y comprising al revolving table havingt a plurality of can; receiving pockets thereon, a., can= feeding apparatus arranged to discharge cans into pockets. of the table as the pockets are brought opposite the feeding apparatus, means which when the table is` rotated in different directions` will apply different marks. on the; cans and delivery chutes into which the cans are movedafter having` been marked.

6. Can marking apparatus comprising in combination With means for feeding empty cans, a revolvable table having a plurality of can receivingl pockets, each of Which pocketI is adapted to. receive a can When moved opposite the feeding: means.4 and means Which When. the table is-rotated. continuously in. either directionv will apply marks upon the cans -mounted inI saidpocket.

7.. Can. marking apparatus` comprising in combinationrvith means forfeeding empty cans,V a revolvable table havingy av plurality ofl can receiving pockets, each of. which pocket is adapted toreceive a can when moved opposite the feeding means. and means which When the table is rotated in one direction will cause amar-fk to be. made uponv a canl held in a pocketand when rotated. in theother direction willv cause a. different mark to be. made upon a like canl held in a pocket of the table.

8. Can marking apparatus comprising a movable member arranged,- to movecans, and marking devices Which When the said member ismoved in one direction Will make a markr upon. cans moved by said member and When moved inv another direction Will make ak different mark on cans.

9. Can marking apparatus comprising a movable. member arranged to move cans7 and marking devices Which when. the said member is movedv continuously in one direction Will make a mark upon cans moved by said member and when moved continuously in another direction Will make a different mark on cans. y

l0. @an marking apparatus comprising a support over which cans are movablemeans for moving the cans over the support in a plurality of directions and means which when the cans are moved in one direction will make a mark on the cans and when the cans are moved in another direction will make a different mark on the cans.

ll. Can marking apparatus comprising a support over lwhich. cans are movable, means for moving the cans over andoff ofthe support in a plurality of directions and means which when the cans are moved in` one direction will make a mark on the cans and When the cans aregmoved in another direction will make a different mark on the cans.

12. @an marking apparatus comprising a support over which cans are movable, means for moving Ithe cans over and off of the support in a plurality of directions,` means which. when the cans-are moved in one direction Will make a mark on the cans and: When the. cansare moved in another direction Will make a different mark on the cans and delivery members onto which y the cans are moved from the support.

13. Apparatus for marking. cans comprising a can feed chute, ay plurality ofv delivery chutesinto which cans from. t-he feed' chute are delivered and means for intercepting cans bet-Ween the feed and delivery chutes marking. them With different marks.

la. Lanv marking apparatus comprising` a movable member arranged tomove cans and marking devices which When the said member is moved in one direction will make a mark upon cans moved by said member and When moved in another direction willi make a different mark on cans, delivery devices into which differently marked cans. are directed. and marking means associated. With one of the delivery devices for mar-king conspicuously upon the cans delivered into said device a distinguishing mark.

l5. Can marking apparatus comprising a can feed chute, al plurality of delivery chutes into which cans. are directed from il il the feed chute and which are arranged to deliver differently marked cans to the Working station of the packer or canner and means operatively associated with the delivery chutes for marking different marks on the cans.

16. The method of marking empty cans preliminary to packing or filling of the cans which consists in feeding 'empty cans towards the Working station of a packer o-r scanner, selectively marking different marks upon cans during the progress thereof and separately delivering the differently marked cans to points Within reach of the canner or packer.

ferently marked cans to points Within reach of the canner or packer.

18. Can marking apparatus comprising means for moving cans from a source of supply of cans Ito a Working station of a cannery or packer, means for causingcans during the progress thereof to be directed in different paths While being advanced andl marking means Which When the cans are directed in one of theJ different paths will make a mark on'the cans. t

JOHN ALBERTOLI. 

